G russell



INVENTOR.

arramvznr Sept 6, 1955 R. G. RUSSELL APPARATUS FOR FORMING cLAss HB1-:Rs

2 Sheets-Sheet l .Af/2J.

Original Filed Dec.

b'ept. 6, 1955 R. G. RUSSELL Re- 24,060

APPARATUS FOR FORMING GLASS FIBERS Original Filed Dec. 14, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .FJE 5.

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mmvrolz Habe/ /P1/55e// Qur/1MM United States Patent O APPARATUS FR FORMING GLASS FIBERS neben G. Russen, Granville, ohio, m0: to owens- Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Original No. 2,634,553, dated April 14, 1953, Serial No. 65,139, December 14, 1948. Application for reissue April l, 1955, Serial No. 498,790

17 Claims. (Cl. 49-17) Matter enclosed ln heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

It is generally customary to form continuous type bers by flowing streams of molten glass or other materials by gravity from the discharge orifices of a container in which the material is reduced to a molten state. In this form of apparatus the discharge orifices are preferably formed in projecting tips or nipples having a relatively thin wall to provide for the rapid loss of heat from the streams as the glass flows from the tips. 'I'he streams cool upon contact with the atmosphere and surface tension causes the stream to neck in and form a cone from the apex of which the lament is attenuated. Maintaining uniformity of diameter of filaments produced in this manner presents a major problem in which such factors as glass level in the containers or bushing, glass temperature, rate of attenuation, and atmospheric conditions must be considered.

Drafts of cold air created by the downward movement of the laments as the streams are attenuated at high speed tend at times to chill the hot streams unequally in the region of the tips. Under these conditions some of the streams become chilledand break or become excessively heated and burn off while still others tend to increase in size. In order to overcome this and other difculties it has been proposed to draw the bers upwardly from a pool of glass. This manner of forming bers or laments comprises immersing a pick or other pointed metallic instrument to which glass will adhere into a pool of molten glass and drawing it upward. The glass adheres to the point and the resulting filament may be attenuated by any suitable means, such as by winding on a drum or spool. When a plurality of filaments are drawn simultaneously in closely spaced relation it is advantageous to provide an orifice plate or grid adjacent the glass surface to prevent surface tension on the glass surface from drawing the laments together and thereby keep them separated.

This method of forming bers overcomes to some extent the diticulties encountered in the downward drawing of bers but it has been found that when a ber being drawn upwardly breaks during attenuation the portion still joined to the molten material falls against the adjaf cent cones thus becoming entangled and stopping the operation.

Re. 24,060 Reissues sept. e, 195s It is a primary object of the invention to overcome these difficulties by providing a simple and ecient means for creating a suitable environment in the attenuating region of a stream of molten glass.

Another object of theinvention is the provision of means for controlling the diameter of laments of glass attenuated from molten streams thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a shield associated with the ow orices of a glass melter to protect the streams flowing therefrom from sudden changes in temperature and for excluding foreign matter from the vicinity of the source of said streams.

Other objects of the invention and features of novelty will become apparent during the course of the following description when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a glass filament forming apparatus embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through one form of fiber forming apparatus with which the present invention may be associated;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially ICC along the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and illustrating elements of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a plan view of an orifice plate forming the present invention;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a modified form of apparatus embodying the present invention;

and

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus shown in Figure 6 as indicated by the line 7-7.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the

preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises generally a glass melting tank 10 formed preferably of refractory material and comprising a melting chamber 1l and a refining and delivery chamber 12 connected at the bottom by a channel 13 formed in a bridge wall 14.

This construction provides a container having a substantially U-shaped passage therein. Material to be melted such as glass forming batch is supplied to the melting chamber 11 through a charging opening l5 at the top of the melting chamber. The opening 15 also serves as an exhaust port for gases evolved during melting of the batch.

Heat may be supplied to the chambers l1 and l2 by means of electrically heated coils 17 of tungsten, molybdenum, platinum, or other suitable materials arranged along the bottom wall of the chambers, or by other suitablegmeans whereby the batch materials are melted and held at the proper delivery temperature. Ordinarily, a higher degree of heat is required in the melting chamber than is desirable in the fined glass in the delivery chamber so that provision is usually made for individual control of temperatures in the chambers. It will be understood, of course, that other sources of heat may be employed such as gas or other fuel.

An opening 20 in the top wall of the delivery cham- 61) ber 12 provides access to the supply body of glass 2l from which the bers are drawn. The supply body is maintained at a substantially constant level by feeding batch material to the melting chamber 1l `at a rate preferably equal to the rate at which glass is withdrawn 65 from the delivery chamber as bers. Variations in the level of glass in such operations as the present 'tend to produce non-uniformities in the bers. For instance, a low level of glass may make starting and continuance of the operation highly diicult while too high a level may cause flooding of the molten glass into the draw opening, thus stopping the operation entirely.

When a large number of closely spaced filaments are 3 drawn at the same time from the same surface it is essential that the conoidal formations be prevented from coming in contact with one another and sticking together. For this reason it is preferable to separate'them and to this end an orice plate such as a draw plate 22 or grid having orifices 23 is mounted in the opening 20 and at substantially the level of the glass. The openings 23 in the plate uniformly space the filaments to facilitate starting and subsequent handling. The tilaments may be started by inserting a pick or starting wire in the openings 23 and drawing the glass upwardly. The fibers may then be wound as a strand on a spool 24.

As previously mentioned, the drawing of filaments upwardly produces a cone-like formation 25 of molten glass with the filament extending from the apex thereof. This cone is the result of several factors which include temperature and viscosity of the glass and the etfect of surface tension on the glass. In the highly molten state the cone 25 is readily affected by sudden atmospheric changes which alter the size of the filament and is exposed to contact with dirt or broken bers which cause stoppage of the operation.

It has long been a problem in the production of fibers or filaments to maintain a suitable environment in the attenuating zone. This has been accomplished in the present invention by providing a plate 28 (Figures 3 and 4) having holes 29 corresponding in number and also substantially in size to the orifices 23 in the grid and disposed in proximity thereto. The plate 28 may have a thickness of one-quarter inch to one inch depending on the type of operation or other operating conditions. However, it has been determined that a depth sucient to substantially enclose the cone is most suitable. The plate 28 is preferably supported in spaced relation to the grid 22 and there is provided between them either a dead air space or a thin layer of suitable insulating material, such as a glass ber fabric, as indicated at 30 in Figure 3. This spacing prevents direct contact of the plate with the grid and thus avoids a too rapid extraction of heat from the surface of the glass. The plate may be embedded in cement as at 31 or otherwise secured in place.

The plate 28 is provided with a series of interconnected passages 32 for the transmission of a cooling fluid. The coolant, which may be water, is circulated through the plate from piping 33 connecting with a suitable source of supply. The water for cooling the plate is supplied at a substantially constant temperature in order to maintain as nearly as possible a uniform temperature throughout the plate. The cooling effect of the huid passing through the plate provides a substantially uniform temperature within the holes 29 so that the cones 25 of hot glass are cooled uniformly. Thus a constant filament diameter is assured. The depth of the plate tends to prevent sudden atmospheric changes or drafts from coming in contact withthe hot cones and also protects the cones against dust, falling bers, etc. The plate is so spaced with relation to the source of the glass streams that it substantially encloses the tip or attenuating zone of the cones and in this way provides a uniform environment in which the lament is formed.

Figure S illustrates a modified form of plate 28 in which continuous slots 35 are provided in place of the holes 29. Passages 36 for a coolant extend parallel to the slots and serve to cool the plate. The slots simplify starting the filaments without materially affecting the operation of the device.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, the` invention is shown in connection with an apparatus for forming glass filaments in which the filaments are drawn downwardly. In this form the apparatus comprises a glass melting container 40 or bushing in which glass batch materials are melted. 'Ihe container is usually rectangular in shape and formed of platinum or other heat resistant metal for connection in an electrical heating circuit. The bushing 40 is usually provided in its bottom wall with a plurality of rows of orices in the form of tips 41 or nipples through which the glass ows in the form of ne streams 42. The metallic bushing is enclosed in insulating material 43 which also covers the tips for a major part of their length. The insulating material in the region of the ends of the tips 41 is molded to provide a recess 44 surrounding the tips to reduce the tendency of the molten glass to flood the bottom of the bushing.

The streams 42 are attenuated to tine fibers by gathering the streams together at a guide 45 to form a strand 46 which is wound on a spool 47 at high speed by winding mechanism 48 of any suitable design.

A temperature control plate 50 is disposed beneath the tips 41 of the insulated bushing enclosing the recess 44 and in sealing contact with the insulating material. The plate is provided with a series of holes 5l corresponding in number to the number of tips 4l. The plate 50 is also provided with passageways 52 through which a constant temperature cooling fluid supplied through pipes 53 is circulated. The cooled plate absorbs heat radiated from the bushing tips and from the glass owing therefrom so that a substantially constant temperature is maintained in the attenuating region.

It will be noted in Figure 7 that the plate 50 does not come in contact with the heated metal bushing but is held in spaced relation by the insulation 43. The separation of the plate and bushing prevents the cold surface of the plate from unduly chilling the bottom wall of the bushing and thus affecting the flow characteristics of the glass. The plate serves also as a shield for the bottom of the bushing and as a protection for the exposed tips 4l. Thus air induced by the downward movement of the streams does not strike the very sensitive region of the molten glass adjacent the tips.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for producing glass filaments comprising a container for the molten glass, means for heating the glass in said container, said container having orifices in'one wall from which streams of glass are attenuated to fine filaments, a tuid cooled plate having orifices corresponding in number and arrangemen to the orifices in said container disposed in spaced relation to said container wall, sealing means between the periphery of said plate and said wall, and means for circulating a cooling uid through said plate.

2. Apparatus for producing glass filaments comprising a container for the molten glass, means for heating the glass in said container, said container having orifices in one wall from which streams of glass in the form of cones are attenuated to fine filaments, means for rapidly and uniformly reducing the temperature of said streams of glass in the region of the cones including a plate spaced from the orifice containing Wall and having openings through which the streams are drawn, and means for circulating a cooling fluid through the plate.

3. Apparatus for producing glass filaments comprising a container for the molten glass, means for heating the glass in said container, said container having orifices in one wall from which streams of glass are attenuated to ne filaments, means for rapidly and uniformly reducing the temperature of said streams of glass in the region of their source including a plate mounted adjacent the orifice containing wall but out of contact therewith, said plate having openings of substantially the size of said orifices and in alignment therewith, and means for circulating a cooling uid within the plate and between said openings.

4. Apparatus for producing glass filaments comprising a container for molten glass including melting and streams to filaments.

rening chambers, an orilce plate covering said relining chamber and substantially in contact with the surtace of the glass therein, means for drawing streams of glass from said orilices and attenuating them to tine laments, means for rapidly and uniformly reducing the temperature of the streams adjacent their source including a second orice plate out of contact with said rst named plate and in alignment therewith, and nonmetallic means disposed between the pei'ipheries of said lrst and second mentioned plates forming a seal, and means for cooling said second named plate.

5. Apparatus for producing glass filaments comprising a container for molten glass including melting and refining chambers, an orifice plate covering said relining chamber and substantially in contact with the surface of the glass therein, means for drawing streams of glass from said orilces and attenuating them to line lilaments, means for rapidly and uniformly reducing the temperature of the streams adjacent their source including a water cooled orice plate out of contact with said lirst named plate and in alignment therewith, and a member disposed between said plates for preventing the inspiration of atmospheric air between said lates. P 6. Apparatus for producing glass filaments comprising a container for molten glass including melting and refining chambers, an orifice plate covering said relining chamber and substantially in contact with the surface of the glass therein, means for drawing substantially cone-shaped streams of glass from said orifices and attenuating them to line filaments, means for rapidly and uniformly reducing the temperature of the streams adjacent their source including a vplate having orilices therein corresponding in number and substantially in size to the orilces in said first-named plate. said second plate out of contact with said lirst plate and arranged with the oritlces substantially enclosing the cone-shaped attenuating region of said streams, a member of nonmetallic material disposed between said plates for preventing the inspiration of atmospheric air around the cone-shaped portions of said streams, and means for cooling said plate to substantially reduce the temperature thereof.

7. Apparatus for producing glass filaments comprising a container for molten glass, a row of projecting nipples on one wall of the container having orifices therein through which the glass ows in the form of streams, insulation covering said container and extending around said nipples, a plate disposed adjacent the ends of said nipples and in sealing contact with said insulation, said plate having orifices in alignment with said nipplesthrough which the streams tlow and are attenuated, means for circulating a cooling tluid through said plate and between said orifices to rapidly uniformly cool the streams, and means for attenuating the 8. Apparatus for producing glass filaments comprising a container for molten glass, a row of projecting nipples on one wall of the container having orices therein through which the glass tlows in the form of streams, insulation covering said container and forming a recess around said nipples, a plate disposed adjacent the ends of said nipples and covering said recess, said plate having orifices in alignment with said nipples through which the streams tlow and are attenuated, means for circulating a cooling uid through said plate and between said orices to rapidly and uniformly cool the, streams, and means for attenuating the streams to filaments.

9,. ln an apparatus for producing glass laments comprising a container for molten glass and having orifices in one wall from which streams of glass are drawn thereby forming an attenuating zone outwardly of the container, means for continuously attenuating the streams to line filaments and winding the filaments on a spool, a plate mounted adjacent the orifice containing wall but out of contact therewith, said plate provided with orifices in alignment with the orilices forming the sources of said streams and disposed substantially in the attenuating zone, heat insulating means disposed between the plate and said container, and means for cooling the plate to rapidly anduniformly reduce the temperature of the streams in the attcnuating zone by proximity of the streams to said plate.

10. Apparatus for producing glass filaments comprising a container for molten glass, means for heating the glass in said container, said container having orifices in one wall from which streams of glass in the form of cones are attenuated to fine filaments, means for rapidly and uniformly reducing the temperature of said streams of glass in the region of the cones including a fluid cooled shield mounted adjacent the orifice containing 'wall but spaced out of contact therewith, said shield having portions extending in a direction generally transverse to the direction of flow of said streams and in spaced relationship therewith, said portions being oriented to subdivide the total number of streams of glass into smaller groups in the region of-said cones, and means for circulating a cooling fluid through said shield to cool said cones.

11. Apparatus for producing glass filaments comprising a container for molten glass, means for heating the glass in said container. said container having orifices in one wall from which streams of glass in the form of cones are attenuated to fine filaments, means for rapidly and uniformly reducing the temperature of said streamsof glass in the region of the cones including a fluid cooled thield mounted adjacent the orice containing wall but spaced out of contact therewith, said shield having portions each extending in a direction generally transverse t0 the direction of flow of said streams adjacent at least an aligned row of said streams in the region of said cones, and means for passing cooling fluid through said shield to remove heat from said portions` and to correspondingly cool the cones adjacent which each extends.

12. Apparatus for producing glass laments comprising a container for molten glass, means for heating the glas: in said container, said container having orices in one wall from which streams of glass in the form of cones are attenuated to fine laments, means for rapidly and uniformly reducing the temperature of said streams of glass in the region of the cones including a shield extending in a direction generally transverse to the direction of attenuation of the laments and spaced from the orifice containing wall, said shield having surfaces in radiant heat absorbing relation to the glass flowing from the orifces, and means for cooling said shield.

13. Apparatus for producing glass filaments comprising a container for molten glass, means for heating the glass in said container, said container having orifices in one wall from which streams of glass in the form of cones are attenuated to fine filaments, means for rapidly and uniformly reducing the temperature of said streams of glass in the region of the cones` including a cooled shield unit mounted adjacent the orifice containing wall but spaced out of contact therewith, said unit having portions each extending adjacent at least an aligned row of said streams in the region of said cones, said portions each having at least one surface extending generally parallel to the direction of flow of said streams from said orifices in the region of said cones, and means for cooling said surfaces and the `streams flowing adjacent thereto in said region.

14. Apparatus for producing glass filaments comprising a container for molten glass, means for heating the glass in said container, said container having orifices in one wall from which streams of glass in the form of cones are attenuated to fine filaments, means for rapidly and uniformly reducing the temperature of said streams of glass in the region of the cones` including a fluid cooled 5 unit mounted adjacent the orifice containing wall but spaced out of contact therewith, said unit having portions subdividing the streams of glass emitted from said orifices into smaller groups in the region of said cones, said portions having surfaces extending generally parallel to the direction of fiow of said streams from said orifices in the region of said cones, and means for circulating a cooling fluid through said unit to cool said surfaces and the streams fiowing adjacent thereto in said region.

I5. Apparatus for producing glass filaments comprising a container for molten glass, a row of projecting nipples in one wall of the container having orifices therein through which the glass flows` in the form Of streams and from which the streams in th`e form of cones are attenuated to fine filaments, a fiuid cooled unit mounted adjacent the face of said wall of the container, said unit having a portion extending on one side of said row of nipples, said portion having at least one surface extending generally parallel to the direction of flow of said streams from said orifices in the region of said cones, said surface extending to at least the level of the tips of said cones, means for circulating a cooling #uid through said unit to cool said surface and the cones adjacent thereto, and means for attenuating the streams to fine filaments.

I6. Apparatus for producing glass laments comprising a'container for molten glass, means for heating the glass in said container, said container having orifices in one wall from which streams of glass in the form of cones are attenuated to fine filaments, means for rapidly and uniformly reducing the temperature of said streams of glass in the region of thc cones including a fluid cooled unit mounted adjacent the orifice containing wall but spaced out of contact therewith, said unit having portions passing in between said streams to subdivide the total number of streams emitted from said orifices into smaller groups in the region of the cones, said portions each having a fluid channel passing therethrough, and means for circulating a cooling fluid through said channels.

17. Apparatus for producing glass laments comprising a container for molten glass, means for heating the glass in said container, said container having orifices in one wall from which streams of glass in the form of cones are attenuated to fine filaments, means for rapidly and uniformly reducing the temperature of said streams of glass in the region of the cones including a fluid cooled unit mounted adjacent the face of the orifice containing wall but spaced out of contact therewith, said unit having portions passing between said streams to subdivide the total number of streams emitted from said orifices into groups of smaller number in the region of the cones, said portions each having at least a surface extending generally in the direction of fiow of said streams, said portions also having tubular channels passing therethrough, means for circulating a cooling fluid through said channels, and means for attenuating the streams to fine filaments.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,796,571 Mathieu Mar. 17, 1931 2,194,814 Stewart Mar. 26, 1940 2,225,667 Staeln Dec. 24, 1940 2,229,489 Barnard I an. 2l, 1941 2,335,135 Staelin Nov. 23, 1943 

